From the Blanco County Democratic Party

Blanco County Democrats assembled for the County Democratic Convention on Saturday morning at the LBJ Middle School Cafeteria in Johnson City. More than 100 enthusiastic Democrats participated, making this the largest County Convention in many years.

The main business of the County Convention was to elect 4 Delegates and 4 Alternates to the State Democratic Convention scheduled for June 6-7 in Austin. The State Convention will elect delegates to the National Democratic Convention to be held in Denver on August 25-28. The Democratic Party’s Presidential nominee for the November General Election will be selected in Denver.

Barbara Hudson, Blanco County Democratic Party Chair, called the County Convention to order and welcomed the Democratic grass roots participants, saying, “This gathering is another giant step in the continuing rebuilding of the Blanco Democratic Party.”

John Watson was elected Permanent Chair of the convention and Marilyn Martin was chosen as Permanent Secretary. Mr. Watson announced that all 49 Delegates elected at the March 4 precinct caucuses were present. The Presidential Preferences were: Sen. Hillary Clinton – 23; Sen. Barack Obama – 26. Accordingly, 2 of the 4 State Convention Delegates were allocated to supporters of each candidate.

The Convention then elected the following delegates and alternates to represent Blanco County Democrats at the State Democratic Convention:

• Debbie Miller – Clinton Delegate

• Russ Abbott – Clinton Delegate

• Juan Jones – Obama Delegate

• Marilyn Martin – Obama Delegate

Alternates elected were Lauren Thompson and Wayne Youngblood for Sen. Clinton and Kandee Bishea and Mike Bentley for Sen. Obama.

The convention also considered and approved a number of the following resolutions:

• Calling for increased flow of information between the State and National Party and grass-roots Democrats;

• Calling for the development and proliferation of sustainable energy sources;

• Demanding reduction of the national debt;

• Supporting expanded State and Federal funding for adult vocational education;

• Demanding development of a user-friendly national health insurance system;

• Stating opposition to the construction and development of an auto racing facility in Blanco County as proposed by Motor Sports Resorts;

• Dissolution of the Electoral College and the election of a presidential candidate through popular vote;

• Calling for the waiving of a 30-day waiting period when one registers to vote;

• Elevating concerns about traffic flow and safety in Blanco County.

• Calling on Texas Superdelegates to support the candidate with the most pledged delegates at the end of the primary process.

Mr. Watson lauded the extremely high turnout In Blanco County for the March 4 Democratic Primary and Caucuses. Almost 1,400 votes were cast in the election and an astonishing 327 came back to polling places that night to participate in the caucuses. Statewide, more than 1 million Texans attended caucuses. At the State Convention, 67 Delegates to the National Convention will be elected from among caucus-goers.

Ms. Martin added: “It has been many years since I have seen the party as invigorated as it is now. Delegates came to the Blanco County Convention knowing that they were playing an important role -- one that could affect the outcome of the one who ultimately ends up as the party nominee. “

Mr. Watson concluded by urging the Democrats to unite behind the eventual nominee for the November general election. He set a goal of getting at least 2,000 votes for the Democratic Party candidate. All present greeted that goal with a unanimous roar of approval.